Sydney has gone to the bridge

I had written this right after my sweet angel passed and thought I would share it:

It is with great sadness and pain that I relay the passing of my sweet Sydney. I had taken him to the vet December 3rd and they found many issues. They say he had pancreatic cancer and prostate tumors which were probably cancerous as well. My heart is breaking because I feel like I could have fixed him if I knew when the issues started. Syd’s been to the vet at least once a month for a year. Every time there was an issue, it was something else that masked the underlying deadly issue. So we would treat the one issue and never know that there was something else going on as well. The vet said that there was absolutely no way he could ever survive no matter what I did, so I had to make the hardest decision of my life to end his suffering. I don’t know how I’m going to go on without “my little brat.”

He was the most high maintenance dog around. He was never easy. He always was at the vet for one thing or another. He was so alpha that I had to be careful around other dogs, but he LOVED his people. Everyone who met him fell in love with him. He was responsible for 11 doxies getting forever homes because he was such a charmer. I spent the last 2 months constantly caring for him and now that he’s gone, I don’t know what to do.

I can’t believe I’m never going to be able to take the Christmas card photo I wanted with Syd as Santa and Dex as the reindeer. I can’t believe that I’m not going to be able to enjoy watching him open his Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. It was the best part of the holiday. He would unwrap the tissue paper so carefully and put it in a pile and then once he liberated his new toy, he’d take a victory lap around my parents’ house and then place the toy on his “new toy” pile and go for the next one.

I can’t believe that when I say “Where’s my weenie dog?” that I’ll never hear him answer with a howl again. Everyone loved that he did this. My friends and my parents’ friends would love to make him howl by saying that. I never taught him how to do it, he just did it on his own.

I can’t believe I’m never going to come home from a bad day and have him lick away my tears and give me the look to let me know it was ok. And stroke his velvety fur! Oh my goodness am I going to miss that. I’ve never felt a doxie feel like Syd in my life. Everyone commented on it too. He was pure velvet.

People are acting like I’m insane because I’ve been off work from the vet appointment on Wednesday (3rd) and just came back today (Monday 8th). I’ll admit that a very kind and caring friend gave me some Xanex(sp) to help me deal. I haven’t been sleeping well at all. It’s not the same without Syd’s head aside of me on the pillow.

My parents are having a hard time too. My dad wants to throw all of the toys away at their house. It’s too hard having them around. My father even had to remove the famous Syd picture at their house of Syd when he stole one of my dad’s cigars and was running around the house, well we were lucky enough to snap a picture of it and it has been one of my dad’s prized possessions ever since. Right now it is too hard to look at it.

Syd was the first dog that I ever had to make the decision to put to sleep. I feel like I made the right decision but darn it, it hurts! I never knew it would happen so quick. When they began to give him the shot, I wanted them to stop, but there was no stopping what happened. I also never knew that their eyes would be open. I held my little one in my arms when he took his final breath. I actually held him for 2 hours after. I didn’t want to let go of him.

I’m here at work and my desk is a homage to Syd. It comforts me and pains me at the same time.

I’m so lucky I have Dex to love. He’s been such a goofy little guy lately. He’s acting completely different. I think he may have been nervous because he knew Syd was so sick and now it’s like he can finally relax. I’m so lucky to have my little fuzz bucket!

It’s funny because everyone who heard the news of Syd’s passing would tell me that Syd wasn’t just a dog, he was almost human and they had never met a dog like him before.

Please keep me and Dex in your prayers. I worry about him without his big brother.

I'm on the mend

Wow, I'm feeling good! Mom is so happy and so is Dexy. We've been having so much fun. Mom dosen't seem to ever want to leave us for any reason. She told me that I have more grey on my face after this latest death defying situation. She asked me to stop scaring her. Scare her, what about how scary it is for me? I can't tell her what's wrong, I try but it doesn't always work.

Pancreatis, Chicken broth and rice? Surely you jest...

Well I was diagnosed with Pancreatitis which is why I was vomiting and scaring my mom so bad last night. She was so upset. The vet told her that I would have to stay the night at the vet’s. She was not pleased. She knows the vet takes good care of me but she still wants me at home.
The vet said pancreatitis can be caused by too much fat in the diet and if a dog is over weight they have a greater chance of getting it. Now here’s the funny thing. Mom has been on my case for the last 3 months to lose weight. I was taking so much Prednisone that I gained weight. She has only been feeding me my Nature’s Recipe Venison Dog Food which is low in fat. She’s been walking me in the morning and at night. I’ve lost 3 pounds in 3 months! And NOW I’d have an attack of pancreatitis? It doesn’t make sense.
I’m only supposed to have 1 piddly tablespoon of chicken broth and 2/3 cup rice until my tummy heals. Can you believe that?
The new dog, Dexy has been letting mommy love me and not getting in the way. I appreciate that. Cause after all, mommy loved me first.

First day alone together!

Well, mom headed out to work today. What made this a bit different than before is that instead of gating off the kitchen to separate me and Dexy she left us together. I of course am an angel but I wasn't so sure about Dexy. Well I was pleasantly surprised. He didn't pest me at all. I was the king of the couch and he layed on the loveseat. I at least got the best blanket, cause after all, I am the supreme doxie. Well I was surprised to see mom coming home at lunch time to spend some time with us. I was really excited! Dexy was going crazy, he was honking like a goose (he has collapsing tracheal disorder) because he was so happy. Mom told me what a good boy I am and how proud she is of me. I mean, I know I'm a good boy but stroking the ego never hurts. She took us both for a walk and then left us alone again because she said something about having to make money to be able to keep us spoiled rotten. I'm thinking Dexy isn't so bad. He is kinda cute, I guess if you can get past his barking when I'm trying to nap.

What else will go wrong?

Well, wouldn't you know it! I was happy and content and my human has to go and decide to adopt a rescue dog. He's been here for a couple of days now. He's not so bad because he already knows who rules the roost with a canine paw. He just doesn't seem to understand that I want to play and I let him know by slamming my nose into his ribs. I mean, what does he want, an invitation? My human isn't too keen on this. She keeps telling me to be nice and to understand that he is scared and we don't know what his life was like before. I'm trying to be nice, I'm just used to being the only dog, so I'm going to need time to adjust. Although it would be nice to have a partner in crime....hmm, maybe it's not so bad.